Barton School Receives $300,000 Gift to Continue Widener Global Leadership Program
June 1, 2023
By Barton School of Business
About the W. Frank Barton School of Business
Located in Kansas’ business hub and with significant ties to the business community,
the W. Frank Barton School of Business provides extensive applied learning opportunities.
With in-person and online options, Barton School undergraduate and graduate programs
are tailored to transform the lives of its students. It also holds a double AACSB
accreditation for business and accounting, which puts it in the top 1% of business
schools worldwide. The Barton School was established as the university’s College of
Business Administration and Industry in 1926 and has thousands of graduates around
the world.
After two years of success, the Widener Global Leaders Program led by the W. Frank
Barton School of Business will continue for the next five years. The continuation
of the program is made possible by a $300,000 gift from Peri Widener, the visionary
behind the program. WGLP is an interdisciplinary program designed to create a transformational
experience and foster an inclusive community for students majoring in business, communications
and fine arts. The integration of the three disciplines reflects the skillset of Peri
Widener, who utilized her background to thrive in the international business world.
“I am so proud this program has been received so well by the community and is making
a difference in the lives of the students we developed over the past two years,” said
Widener, CEO of GLoBIL Consulting Group, a Director of the International Women’s Forum
Global Board and a member of the Barton School Dean’s Advisory Board. “With this vital
support, we can continue to create a movement for the next generation of leaders.”
The program is led by the W. Frank Barton School of Business in collaboration with
the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the College of Fine Arts at Wichita State
University. Throughout the yearlong program, students develop business skills, communication
skills, artistic awareness, a commitment to social responsibility, cultural intelligence,
and a global mindset. They attend and have access to networking, mentorship, trips
to industry-leading companies and connections to business, communication and artistic
leaders. In just two years, WGLP has had 16 students participate. Going forward, these
alumnae will serve as Big Sisters, mentoring the new cohorts as the program’s community
expands.
“The growth of each cohort has been so wonderful to witness,” said Dr. Larisa Genin,
Dean of the Barton School and WGLP Program Director. “This has been a massive success
and with another substantial gift from Peri Widener, our work to empower and enlighten
hundreds of leaders can blossom.”
